Moses alone shall approach the LORD, but the others must not come near. And the people may not go up with him." Sermons
I. THOSE SELECTED FOR THIS VISION. That Moses himself went up was a matter of course. It was good for him to be there for the strengthening of his own faith. He himself would rejoice in the assurance thus given that the promise of the people was accepted. As to those who went up with him, it is clear that in the revelation something was being done to prepare them for official positions afterwards. They got this glorious sight not because they deserved it more than others, but because they needed it more. Moses required helps in order that he might be a mediator between God and the whole nation, and so these men, the seventy elders in particular, needed help in acting as mediators between Moses and the people. Doubtless it was intended that they should go down again among the people and be witnesses as to what they had seen. Would it not give an elder greater influence in after days if the people took knowledge of him that he had been with Moses in the mount? Notice, that in spite of this great revelation, Aaron soon fell away into the great transgression of the golden calf, and a little later Nadab and Abihu perished before the Lord for their disobedience. And may we not say that their sin was all the greater, just because they had been favoured with a privilege which they had failed to profit by? II. THE VISION ITSELF. "They saw the God of Israel." There is a mysterious yet most instructive reticence as to exactly what it was that they saw. As to what shape and form were seen nothing is said; and even concerning the circumstances nothing more is ventured than an indication o! the sapphire work on which he stood. And since we find this reticence of description it behoves us to put corresponding restraint on our conjectures: we may infer that the purpose of this vision was to give a plain and encouraging contrast between what was now seen and what had been seen before. When God's people are at peace with him - and there was a symbolic peace at this time - then there is a cessation of such terrorising manifestations as we read of in ch. 19. When we see all that strange mingling of terrible darkness, light, and sound, which make up the thunderstorm, we know that Nature is striving to recover her balance. That balance recovered, the body of heaven resumes its clearness; nay it often appears in even more than its accustomed beauty. All the dark and frowning appearances of God, all things that shake and confuse the soul, are meant to lead on to a calming and attracting revelation of God such as this revelation to Aaron and his companions but feebly typifies. First, the presence of God is made known amid thunder, lightning and smoke, and everything trembles to its centre at but the touch of his feet: then there is the change to where he is lifted clean above the polluting earth. Instead of disturbance there is unruffled peace, the beauty and profundity of the cloudless heaven. Thus by this outward symbol should we think of the quiet, untroubled heart where dwells the reconciled God. The more complete that reconciliation, the more settled the peace which we have with God, the more may the state of our hearts be indicated by the language which is here employed. III. THE EXPERIENCES OF THIS CHOSEN COMPANY DURING THE VISION. 1. They were made to feel unmistakably God's benignity towards them. He did not lay his hand upon them. That they were not swiftly stretched in death upon the mountain side is spoken of as if in itself a subject of congratulation. The negative must come before the positive. The thought of complete salvation from danger must precede the thought of positive growth and enrichment. It was scarcely credible that men should see God and live. How dependent we are for our conclusions on narrow experiences, sometimes on most superstitious fears! The day is coming when, if we only accept all purifying ministrations, we shall not only see God and live, but also wonder that so long we should have been able to live without seeing him. 2. This benignity is particularly experienced in their being allowed to eat and drink before God. It is in the companionship of the table that social intercourse is commonly supposed to reach its perfection. This eating and drinking before God indicated that a certain composure of mind had been attained, and that the company had some real enjoyment of the position in which it was placed. There is a setting forth of the Divine blessing which ever rests on true fellowship of the saints. As many as are right with God personally are drawn together for united enjoyment as well as for united service. There is no place where the hearts of men are really one but when they are gathered before him who has the sapphire work under his feet. There, and there only, do we find the secret of that penetrating harmony which dissolves and utterly destroys all discords. - Y.
Come up to Me into the mount. I. EACH ONE HAS HIS OWN POSITION TO OCCUPY.II. EACH MAN HAS HIS OWN DIVINE VISION. To-day we may experience Divine chidings, and to-morrow we may be on the Mount of Beatitude. III. BUT THERE ARE SPECIALITIES OF WORK. IV. THEREFORE THERE MUST BE SPECIALITY IN THE PREPARATIONS. Learn to be much in the right, much in prayer, much in mountain solitude; but much also with the people. Let waiting and working go hand in hand. Above all things, obey the Divine voice. (W. Burrows, B. A.) 1. For religious teachers. 2. For those engaged in business. 3. For parents, etc. II. That SPECIAL PLACES are appointed for communion with God. 1. House of God. 2. Privacy of own chamber. III. That PREPARATION should be made for communion with God (ver. 14; see Matthew 6:6). 1. Guard against interruptions from without. 2. Drive away worldly and anxious thoughts within. IV. That communion with God should be most frequently ALONE. 1. Presence of others may distract mind or embarrass thoughts. 2. Presence of others may divert attention from personal concerns of soul. 3. Private sins and wants to be laid bare. V. That in communion with God, THE PRESENCE OF OTHERS IS SOMETIMES HELPFUL AND EVEN NECESSARY. Family worship — prayer meetings — for those who have common wants, interests, etc. VI. That communion with God is THE CONDITION UPON WHICH MAN MAY WITNESS THE DIVINE GLORY (vers. 16, 17; see Isaiah 6.) VII. That communion with God MAY RE PROTRACTED, and man must not weary of it. VIII. That among the purposes of communion with God, are RECOGNITION OF THE DIVINE AUTHORITY AND PREPARATION FOR FUTURE WORK. (J. W. Burn.) (A. J. Gordon.) Moses would never have been the law-giver he was had he not remained there on the mount, in sight of the glory and in communion with his God. The disciples would never have wrought as they did, had they not tarried in Jerusalem. Eminent preachers and teachers would never have thrilled and won hearts to Christ as they have, had they not gained their power in long seasons of prayer and communion with God.1. Spiritual endowment is always the measure of success in work for Christ. Preachers fail and teachers fail because they are so little on the mount with God. 2. The want of Christian workers everywhere is revelation of the Divine glory. From this, power springs. God can use us only as we become equipped by vision of, and communion with, Him. We can tell only as we know. We know only as we are taught of God. Have we been on the mount, under the cloud? Have we seen the glory and heard the voice? What is our message from God to men? (J. E. Twitchell.). People Aaron, Abihu, Hur, Israelites, Joshua, Moses, NadabPlaces Mount SinaiTopics Alone, Approach, Draw, Drawn, However, NighOutline 1. Moses is called up into the mountain3. The people promise obedience 4. Moses builds an altar, and twelve pillars. 6. He sprinkles the blood of the covenant 9. The glory of God appears 14. Aaron and Hur have the charge of the people 15. Moses goes into the mountain, where he continues forty days and forty nights. Dictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 24:1-2Library Sin and Forgiveness'... Forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty....'--EXODUS xxiv. 7. The former chapter tells us of the majesty of the divine revelation as it was made to Moses on 'the mount of God.' Let us notice that, whatever was the visible pomp of the external Theophany to the senses, the true revelation lay in the proclamation of the 'Name'; the revelation to the conscience and the heart; and such a revelation had never before fallen on mortal ears. It is remarkable … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture 'The Love of Thine Espousals' The Blood of the Covenant The Blood of the Testament The Blood of Sprinkling The Birth of Jesus Proclaimed by Angels to the Shepherds. The Lord's Supper Instituted. Writings of St. Ambrose. Things Pertaining to the Kingdom. The Last Supper Brief Outline of Ancient Jewish Theological Literature Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him. Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes Exodus Links Exodus 24:2 NIVExodus 24:2 NLT Exodus 24:2 ESV Exodus 24:2 NASB Exodus 24:2 KJV Exodus 24:2 Bible Apps Exodus 24:2 Parallel Exodus 24:2 Biblia Paralela Exodus 24:2 Chinese Bible Exodus 24:2 French Bible Exodus 24:2 German Bible Exodus 24:2 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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